1. Chapter Thirteen
Islam

2. Pre-Islamic Arab Religions
Islam began among the Arabian desert people during the seventh century C.E.
These people had already been exposed to Christianity, Judaism, and possibly Zoroastrianism
The religion of the Arabian people before Islam was likely polytheistic
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

3. Pre-Islamic Arab Religions
The pre-Islamic religion was animistic
Gods and spirits were found in items in nature
Those spirits could be placated or asked for help
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

4. Pre-Islamic Arab Religions
The city of Mecca became a place with holy animistic associations
Mecca also included the “black stone,” a holy object of veneration that was likely a meteorite
The black stone was surrounded by an enclosure called the Ka’ba
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

5. The Life of Muhammad
Because Islam is a younger religion, there are more details available about its founder – Muhammad
Born in 570, Muhammad was raised by his uncle and was illiterate
Muhammad started to work and travel in caravans and went to Mecca.
While there, he was exposed to many religions
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

6. The Life of Muhammad
Muhammad became concerned about the fate of his people, who worshiped a multitude of gods and goddesses
He also became concerned with social justice
Muhammad married Khadija, the owner of the caravan. Khadija’s wealth allowed Muhammad to spread his message.
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

7. The Life of Muhammad
During a period of meditation, the angel Gabriel brought Muhammad a revelation from God
Muhammad would continue to receive revelations from God for the rest of his life
Muhammad became convinced that there is only one God, called Allah, and that he himself was the last prophet
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

8. The Life of Muhammad
Muhammad began to preach this message, and his first convert was his wife
Muhammad spread his message of reciting the Qur’an, which was the holy message of God
Islam began to spread after the death of Muhammad’s wife
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

9. The Qur’an
The Scripture of Islam is called The Qur’an, which means reading or recitation
Muslims believe that the Qur’an is a recitation of an eternal Scripture, written in Heaven and revealed by God to Muhammad
Verses from the Qur’an are memorized and recited
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

10. Religious Institutions
The Mosque
Because of their originally nomadic life, Islam is not centered on gathering in a temple for worship
Muslims are required to pray at the mosque one day per week
Mosques also serve as important places of study
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

11. Religious Institutions
The Five Pillars:
Repetition of the creed
Daily prayer
Almsgiving
The fast of Ramadan
Pilgrimage to Mecca
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

12. The Spread of Islam
Within a century of Muhammad’s death, Islam became a unifying force for Arabian people
Muslim armies swept across the middle east, North Africa, and Spain. They spread the faith as they went.
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

13. The Spread of Islam
There were several reasons for the mass appeal of Islam:
Universal
Wide appeal
Created in a corrupt and cruel world
In the 700s, the Muslims conquered Spain
In the eleventh century, the Muslims extended to India and China
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

14. The Caliphate
Islam is not highly structured like the Roman Catholic Church
The caliph was the deputy or representative in religious affairs
It is the one central and unifying office in Islam
There are ongoing disagreements about the succession of caliphs
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

15. Variations Within Islam
Sunnis
The majority of Muslims are Sunnis
They base their practices on the Qur’an and on traditions concerning the community
Shi’ites
The rift began as a political dispute over leadership, which took on theological dimensions
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

16. Islam in the Modern World
Following the caliphate of Baghdad, Islam settled down to a relatively peaceful existence
While Europe was moving out of the medieval period, many Muslim communities were still pre-industrial
Islam’s isolation from the rest of the world ended in the early part of the twentieth century
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

17. Islam in the Modern World
By the twentieth century, transportation allowed outsiders into Muslim areas
WWI caused the breakup of the Ottoman Empire
The discovery of natural resources of oil and other items furthered Muslim contact with the rest of the world
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

18. Muslim Calendar and Holy Days
Feast of Fast-Breaking
This feast comes after the fast of Ramadan
Feast of Sacrifice
Commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac for God
New Year
Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

19. Islam Today Islam has become an increasingly important political force
Many emerging nations are also Islamic nations
Some of those nations are important to the world economy because of their stores of natural resources
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

20. Islam Today Islam is also growing again
Missionary work in Africa is spreading the faith. Immigration is another factor.
Islam is now the second most popular religion in the United States
It remains to be seen whether Islamic countries that rely on ancient religious traditions can continue in the modern world
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.